Ris Lacoste's New Restaurant Is Close to Launch

By
Tom Sietsema

Three years after she acquired space for her eponymous restaurant at 23rd and L streets, Ris Lacoste is finally preparing to open her dining room in the West End.

"Can you believe it?" the chef exclaimed over the phone this afternoon. Construction on the restaurant, known as ris, ("I'm the big 'R'") is expected to wrap up later this month, says Lacoste. She blames the epic wait on fundraising and lease negotiations, but a November debut is now a real possibility, she forecasts.

"I'm glad I wasn't opening a year ago. Someone was watching over me, truly. "

As long planned, the 170-seat ris will be neighborhood-focused and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ed Kwitowski, a protégé of chef Jeff Buben, who most recently cooked at Bistro Bis on the Hill, will serve as Lacoste's No. 2 in the kitchen. Her business partner in the venture is Mitchell Herman, a former executive with Shoppers Food and Pharmacy.